Disposable Substance Dispensing Apparatus

ABSTRACT

A disposable substance dispensing apparatus comprises a plurality of disposable substance dispensing containers coupled together in the shape of a fruit. Each of the containers is in the shape of a slice of fruit and has a fillable chamber accessed by a port through one of the outer walls of the container. A packaging material extends around each of the containers to hold the dispensing apparatus in the shape of a fruit. Each of the containers may individually be removed from the apparatus. The port of each container may be accessed by a single use tear-off or twist-off impermeable cap.

TECHNICAL FIELD AND INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY OF THE INVENTION

The field of the invention relates generally to the assembly of disposable substance dispensing containers and more particularly relates to disposable substance dispensing containers that are assembled in the shape of a fruit. The contents of the individual containers of the apparatus may be used to flavor beverages.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many types of substance dispensing containers exist in the prior art. Individual squeezable juice containers in the shape of a lemon or lime are in general household use. Individual squeezable juice containers in the shape of a slice or wedge of fruit have been disclosed. The present invention is directed toward an apparatus comprising a plurality of individual disposable substance dispensing containers coupled together in the shape of a fruit. The disposable substance dispensing container apparatus is designed and assembled such that each of the plurality of individual disposable containers can each be individually removed from the apparatus to provide a means whereby the substance may be supplied in a single use by a user to one or more beverages. The disposable substance dispensing apparatus thus lends itself for consumption by a group of users such as customers in a restaurant, bar, or club.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A disposable substance dispensing apparatus comprising a plurality of disposable substance dispensing containers coupled together in the shape of a fruit is disclosed. Each of the containers is in the shape of a slice of fruit and has a fillable chamber accessed by a port through one of the walls of the container. A packaging material extends around each of the containers to hold the dispensing apparatus in the shape of a fruit. Each of the containers may individually be removed from the apparatus. The port of each container may be accessed by a single use tear-off or twist-off impermeable cap.

A particular advantage of this invention is the ability of a user to remove the individual containers from the apparatus much like removing slices from a fruit such as an orange.

These and other features of the invention will become more apparent from the description of the various embodiments and drawings which follows.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a respective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention before assembly and illustrates the inventive principles.

FIG. 2 is a respective view of a cross-section of a single disposable substance dispensing container.

FIG. 3 is another respective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention in assembled form and illustrates the inventive principals.

FIG. 4 is another respective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention in assembled form and illustrates the inventive principals.

FIG. 5 is a respective view of an embodiment of the invention before assembly and illustrates the inventive principles.

FIG. 6 is a respective view of a cross-section of a single disposable substance dispensing container in another embodiment.

FIG. 7 is another respective view of an embodiment of the invention in assembled form and illustrates the inventive principals.

FIG. 8 is a respective view of a pointed object that may be included with the disposable substance dispensing apparatus.

FIG. 9 is another respective view of an embodiment of the invention in assembled form and illustrates the inventive principals.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of a disposable substance dispensing apparatus are described herein. In the following description, numerous details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments of the invention. In certain instances, well-known structures, materials, or methods of operation may not be fully described in detail in order to highlight the key aspects of the invention.

Reference throughout this specification to “an embodiment” or “one embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Particular features, structures, or characteristics described in connection with the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.

A disposable substance dispensing apparatus comprising a plurality of disposable substance dispensing containers coupled together in the shape of a fruit is disclosed. Each of the containers is in the shape of a slice of fruit and has a fill-able chamber accessed by a port through one of the walls of the container. A packaging material extends around each of the containers to hold the dispensing apparatus in the shape of a fruit. Each of the containers may individually be removed from the apparatus. The port of each container may be accessed by a single use tear-off or twist-off impermeable cap. In use, the substance may be added through the port before the port is sealed. Various substances may be contained and dispensed using the present invention including, but not limited to, alcohol, juices, flavoring syrups, and salt.

Reference is now made to the drawings in which reference numerals refer to like elements.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4, disposable substance dispensing containers 10 are shown, each being formed separately having outer wall 12, outer wall 14, and outer wall 16 that are formed in the shape of a slice of fruit using plastic material. Other materials for the formation of the disposable substance dispensing containers 10 may be used including, but not limited to, paper, cardboard, glass, tin, vinyl aluminum, rubber, and compounds such as silicone.

Disposable substance dispensing container 10 comprises a chamber 22 that is designed to hold a volumetric capacity of between one to three fluid ounces of a liquid substance. Chamber 22 may be integral with the outer walls 12, 14, and 16 as shown or, for purposes of manufacture, may be a separate unit. Disposable substance dispensing container 10 comprises a port 24 that accesses chamber 22 through outer wall 16. The port 24 is coupled to impermeable dispensing cap 20 that comprises a single-use tear-open or twist-off piece 26 to access the port 24.

Disposable substance dispensing containers 10 are assembled into disposable substance dispensing apparatus 30 in the shape of a fruit. Packaging material 28 encircles the disposable substance dispensing containers 10. Packaging material 28 is made of paper and has adhesive on the side that is in contact with outer wall 16 and comprises a plurality of notches 32 to establish a tear-zone, each of said notches 32 being perpendicular to the border of said packaging material 28 and generally located at the border where adjacent disposable substance dispensing containers 10 are mated together. Other materials for the formation of the packaging material 28 may be used including, but not limited to, cardboard, plastic, and vinyl aluminum.

Referring to FIGS. 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 disposable substance dispensing containers 50 are shown, each being formed having outer wall 52, outer wall 54, outer wall 56, and outer wall 58 that are formed in the shape of a slice of fruit using plastic material. Other materials for the formation of the disposable substance dispensing containers 50 may be used including, but not limited to, paper, cardboard, glass, tin, vinyl aluminum, rubber, and compounds such as silicone.

Disposable substance dispensing container 50 comprises a chamber 62 that is designed to hold a volumetric capacity of between one to three fluid ounces of a liquid substance. Chamber 62 may be integral with the outer walls 52, 54, 56, and 58 as shown or, for purposes of manufacture may be a separate unit. Disposable substance dispensing container 50 comprises a port 64 that accesses chamber 62 through outer wall 56. The port 64 is coupled to seal 66. Seal 66 forms an airtight seal to port 64. Seal 66 may be applied by adhesive to the outer surface of port 64 or may be incorporated into outer wall 54 during manufacture. In use, seal 66 is designed to be peeled off or punctured. Seal 66 has a puncture resistance less than the puncture resistance of outer wall 54.

Disposable substance dispensing containers 50 are coupled together with an application of an adhesive to one or both of outer wall 52 and outer wall 54, to form disposable substance dispensing apparatus 80 in the shape of a fruit. Other materials for the coupling of the disposable substance dispensing containers 50 may be used including, but not limited to, tape and compounds such as silicone. In this embodiment, due to the addition of outer wall 58, the disposable substance dispensing containers 50, when coupled in the shape of a fruit, create cylindrical opening 70 through the longitudinal axis of the disposable substance dispensing apparatus 80.

Rod 100 is a plastic shaft that comprises head 102 at one end of the shaft and pointed tip 104 at the opposing end of the shaft. Head 102 is designed in the shape of a stem of a fruit. Rod 100 is designed to be placed inside cylindrical opening 70 during assembly of the disposable substance dispensing apparatus 80.

Packaging material 88 encircles the coupled disposable substance dispensing containers 50. Packaging material 88 is made of paper with adhesive on the side that is in contact with outer walls 56 and comprises a plurality of perforations 92 to establish a tear-zone, each of said perforations 92 being perpendicular to the border of packaging material 88 and generally located at the border where adjacent disposable substance dispensing containers 50 are coupled together. Other materials for the formation of the packaging material 88 may be used including, but not limited to, cardboard, plastic, and vinyl aluminum.

In some applications it may be advantageous to make additional modifications. In one embodiment, it may be advantageous to include at least one additional port to each of the disposable substance dispensing containers for the purposes of manufacture and for efficiently injecting into the chamber the desired substance during manufacture. In another embodiment, the port or seal or both the port and seal may be in the shape of seed in keeping with the fruit-shaped theme of each disposable substance dispensing container that is shaped like a fruit slice. In another embodiment, the disposable substance dispensing containers are formed, colored, and textured to simulate a fruit slice. In another embodiment, the chamber may be designed to hold a volumetric capacity of more than 3 fluid ounces of a liquid substance.

In another embodiment, the disposable substance dispensing apparatus comprises an even number of disposable substance dispensing containers, each identical in shape. In another embodiment, it may be advantageous to include or apply a sterile inner liner to the chamber that is suited for containing certain substances like alcohol or condiments like salt. In another embodiment, the disposable substance dispensing apparatus may comprise a plurality of disposable substance dispensing containers that collectively hold more than one type of substance. For example, the disposable substance dispensing apparatus may comprise at least one disposable substance dispensing container that holds a liquid material such as alcohol, and the disposable substance dispensing apparatus also comprises at least one disposable substance dispensing container that holds a solid material such as salt.

In another embodiment, a seal may be applied to the port to completely seal the entrance to the chamber that can be removed by peeling a flap that is either designed into the seal or is coupled to the seal. In another embodiment, the seal is designed to be removed or punctured when a given pressure is applied to permit access to the chamber. In another application the rod may be a straw with one pointed end and one flat end, capable of having the substance flow through the rod. The flow of the substance may be caused by gravity or through application of pressure by squeezing the container.

In another embodiment, the port is formed in the shape of a threaded inlet permitting a threaded cap to be screwed on to the threaded port. Once the threaded cap has been coupled with the threaded port, additional material such as heat shrinking plastic may be applied to provide a tamper-proof outer seal.

In another embodiment the packaging material may comprise a series of notches, slits, or perforations that have been applied perpendicular to the border of the packaging material that are designed to create tear-zones along the length of the packaging material between adjacently coupled disposable substance dispensing containers that have been assembled in the shape of a fruit.

In another embodiment, all the disposable substance dispensing containers that comprise the disposable substance dispensing apparatus are all manufactured from a single plastic injection mold process such that each of the disposable substance dispensing containers are connected to at least one other disposable substance dispensing container. This permits a single mold to create all the disposable substance dispensing containers that comprise a single disposable substance dispensing apparatus in a single molding process. This connecting, by way of a small amount of thin plastic between at least one of the outer walls of each of the containers permits a simple way to complete the manufacture process to the form the disposable substance dispensing apparatus.

In another embodiment, the coupling of each of the containers may be accomplished by means of a physical mating and locking configuration. In one example, each container may have a dimple incorporated into one outer wall and a cavity incorporated into the adjacent outer wall, such that, when mated with another similarly designed and manufactured container, the dimple of one container fits into the cavity of an adjacently mated container making two adjacent containers mate flush with each other. Each additional container is then added to create an apparatus in the shape of a fruit. The mating of the final container acts much like a keystone in an archway by creating a force fit to physically lock all the containers together in the shape of a fruit. The apparatus could then later be broken down into the individual containers, for example, by gripping the apparatus in one hand and using the thumb and index finger of the other hand placed on the cylindrical opening to apply outward pressure on at least one container. The outward pressure would break the physical mating of adjacent containers to free at least one container.

In another embodiment, the packaging material may completely encompass all the containers in the apparatus. Much like the outer skin of an orange that is first peeled to access each of the slices contained within, the packaging material, in this example, would need to be removed in part or in whole to gain access to the containers.

It will be readily understood to those skilled in the art that various other changes in the details, material, and arrangements of the parts and methods which have been described in order to explain the nature of this subject matter may be made without departing from the principles and scope of the subject matter as expressed in the subjoined claims. 

1. A disposable substance dispensing apparatus, comprising: a plurality of disposable substance dispensing containers coupled together in the shape of a fruit, each of said containers being formed with outer walls in the shape of a slice of fruit, each of said containers further comprising: a chamber, a port that accesses said chamber through at least of one said outer walls; a packaging material that encircles the assembled said containers.
 2. A substance dispensing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of said containers is made of a plastic material.
 3. A substance dispensing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of said containers further comprises a single-use tear-open or twist-off impermeable dispensing cap coupled to said port.
 4. A substance dispensing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein each of said ports comprises a seal.
 5. A substance dispensing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein each of said seals is designed and manufactured to be punctured by a pointed object, said seal having a puncture resistance less than the puncture resistance of each of said outer walls.
 6. A substance dispensing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said pointed object is a rod with a pointed tip, said rod disposed along the central longitudinal axis in said apparatus.
 7. A substance dispensing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said rod further comprises a head in the shape of a stem of a fruit.
 8. A substance dispensing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said coupling of said containers is performed using an adhesive in contact with at least one of said outer walls of each of said containers.
 9. A substance dispensing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said packaging material is coupled to said apparatus with an adhesive; said adhesive in contact with each of said containers.
 10. A substance dispensing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said packaging material further comprises a plurality of notches to establish a tear-zone, each of said notches perpendicular to the border of said packaging material and located at the border of each of said containers.
 11. A substance dispensing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said packaging material is made of plastic.
 12. A substance dispensing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein each of said chambers has a volumetric capacity of 1.0 to 3.0 fluid ounces.
 13. A disposable substance dispensing apparatus, comprising: a plurality of disposable substance dispensing containers, wherein each of said containers is connected to at least one other of said containers in the shape of a fruit, each of said containers being formed with outer walls in the shape of a slice of fruit, each of said containers further comprising: a chamber, a port that accesses said chamber through at least of one said outer walls; a packaging material that encircles said apparatus of said containers.
 14. A substance dispensing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein each of said containers and each of said connections between containers is made of the same plastic material.
 15. A substance dispensing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein each of said chambers has a volumetric capacity of 1.0 to 3.0 fluid ounces.
 16. A substance dispensing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein each of said containers further comprises a single-use tear-open or twist-off impermeable dispensing cap coupled to said port.
 17. A substance dispensing apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said packaging material further comprises a plurality of notches to establish a tear-zone, each of said notches perpendicular to the border of said packaging material and located at the border of each adjacent container.
 18. A disposable substance dispensing apparatus, comprising: a plurality of disposable substance dispensing containers coupled together in the shape of a fruit, each of said containers being formed with outer walls in the shape of a slice of fruit, each of said containers further comprising: a chamber, a port that accesses said chamber through at least of one said outer walls; a dimple in at least one outer wall; a cavity in at least one outer wall; a packaging material that encircles the assembled said containers.
 19. A substance dispensing apparatus according to claim 18, wherein each of said ports comprises a seal.
 20. A substance dispensing apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said packaging material further comprises a plurality of notches to establish a tear-zone, each of said notches perpendicular to the border of said packaging material and located at the border of each adjacent container. 